The recent installation and the declaration of the new chief
prosecutor in the capital city of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, are very troublesome
and many should be extremely concerned by his declarations. Mr Francisco Rene a
controversial prosecutor, with the reputation of ordering the arrests of journalists
who are not favorably reporting of the current Haitian government, made the
following announcement during his swearing in ceremony. “Playtime is over, the radios
drama is over. There are no longer questions of treating the authorities anyhow…
The slanders will be prosecuted. I will strengthen the system of criminal justice”.
Threatening the media for their constant
reporting on the activities and programs of the government and its
officials is
outrageous and should not be taken lightly. I mean really Mr Francisco,
your
top priority is the prosecution of slanders?!!! When you say that it is
no
longer question of treating authorities anyhow, what exactly do you mean
by
that? Can you tell the population how the authorities are being treated?
Last
time I checked the authorities enjoy the most lavish lifestyle that
their
salaries cannot even afford while the poor are living in crass.
Prisoners are
held in jail for years, some for decades without ever appearing before a
judge
unless they have enough money to pay a police officer for their release
or pay
the judge who can enter a favorable judgment for them. Are you talking
about
these authorities? We are so confused and your declaration needs some
clarities. Which authorities are being treated badly? The Prime Minister
and the
President surrounded all the time by top notch security officers ready
to shoot
at anyone who would want to attack them? If the government wants the
media to
talk favorably about its actions then it should do good works that are
favorable to the masses. Criticism may not be agreeable but it is
necessary in
a true democracy. Threats by officials to oppress freedom of speech
should not
be accepted under any circumstances. We know better than anyone what
could
precede these threats; the Duvaliers and many before them showed us what
can
happen when freedom of speech is not respected. Fortunately those sad
and dark days
are behind us and we the Haitian people should never accept any attempt
to
bring them back. We join our voice with those of numerous human rights
and
freedom of speech advocates, the Haitian Media Association, The Haitian
Bar Association
and a number of Haitian lawmakers against the appointment of this
incompetent individual,
who has no idea whatsoever about the rules of laws, and whose
appointment is to
only push the government agenda and oppress those who oppose. How else
the government is suppose to know which programs work or don't work if
the people are not allowed to say how they feel about them.